Balloon-observatory.



No. 691,719. l Patented lan. 2|, |902. .1. amara. BALLUUN OBSERVATOBY.

(Application mea .rune s, 1901.1 v (Ilo Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet frah, I

TN: Nonms mins co.. Pnooumo. WASHINGTON. D. c.

Patented 1an. 2|, |902.

No. 691,7l9.v

J. GRETH.

BALLDOH DBSEBVATUBY. (Appueazion med .mm ,.19c1.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

witnesses v fltbouww- Raums Pzrsns cu. snow-uma, wAsHmsYcN, n. C'

@UNETED 'STATES JOSEPH GRETH, OE NEW YORK, N. Y.

, AssieNoR or ONE-HALE To JOHN L.

ADAMS, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

BALLOON-OBSERVATORY'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 691,719, dated January 21, 1902.

Application filed June 8, 1901.

' body in a fixed position at any desired altitude, suspending a platform from the said balloon or buoyant body adjacent thereto, and arrangingr an elevator in connection with the v said balloon and platform, by means of which passengers can be carried to and from the said platform.

The invention consists also in the peculiar construction of the various parts and in their novel combination, the arrangement of all of which will be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings formingapartof this specification, Figure lis a side elevation of the balloon and a platform suspended therefrom, and also the elevator-car for carrying the passengers to and from the platform, the elevating and guide ropes being broken away. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the balloon or buoyant body,illustratin g the sectional construction of the same, said section being taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l and'illustrating the pulley-supporting frame connected to the balloon. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the-line 4 4 of Fig. 1, illustrating in plan view the observation-platform suspended from the balloon. Fig. 5 is a sectional view ou the line 5 5 of Fig. l, showing in plan view the elevator-car and platform; and Fig. 6 is a reduced detail view illustrating the practical application of my invention.

In carrying out my invention I employ a balloon or other buoyant body A, which is preferably composed of a series of independent compartments A', each` having a separate valve A2, which Valve communicates with a Serial No. 63.754. L(No niodel.)

pipe A3, which encircles the balloon, Said pipe A3 having the pipe A4 connected thereto, said pipe A'iextendiug down to the operating-station, so that gas can be pumped into or from the balloon, as desired. A band B surrounds the balloon at its equator, and guy ropes or cables C extend from the said band to the earth for the purpose of anchoring the balloon in a definite position. Rods D also depend from the band B, said rods supporting the platform or gallery E, having a suitable railing E. This platform is also held in position by means of brace-rods E2 extending from the said platform to the guy ropes or cables C. This platform or galleryE is in the form of a ring, as most clearly shown in Fig. 4, the large circular opening permitting the entrance of the elevator-car F, which moves up and down on the cablesD', depending from a band B', surrounding the balloon below the band B. These cables D' pass over pulleys D2 and are connected to any suitable winding device, so

that the balloon can be drawn down whenever it is desired without withdrawing the gas therefrom. As before stated, the elevator-car moves up and down upon the cables D', the platform F' having openings F2,thro`ugh which the cables pass. The car is elevated by means of a cable G, having a counterweight G' arranged thereon, said cable passing over a pulley G2 and connected to a winding-drum for the purpose of raising or lowering the car, as desired.

In practice I prefer to use two such cables G, said cables passing around pulleys II, jonrnaled in the frame H', suspended from the balloon. Any suitable brake mechanism may be employed for the purpose of stopping the car at a desired elevation.

In operation the balloon is inated and anchored at any desired elevation, the circular platform E being suspended therefrom and braced in its proper position. The elevatorcar is then connected lto the balloon as before described, and by operating the winding mechanism the said car can be raised or lowered upon the cables D', so that passengers can be carried to and from the platform E. The balloon being made in compartments is rendered safer than one formed of a single IOO compartment, inasmuch as damage to one compartment will have no eect upon the other. Furthermore, the common supplypipe connects the several compartments, said supply-pipe extending lo the operating-station, so that gas can be supplied to or withdrawn from the balloon as required. By means of the cables D' the elevator-car is guided in its movements to and from the balloon, and by means of these same cables the balloon can be lowered or drawn down at any time without withdrawing any of the gas therefrom. This observatory can be used for scientific or amusement purposes.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. The combination with a balloon orbuoyant body anchored in a suitable manner, of a platform or gallery suspended therefrom, an elevatoncar movable to and from the said platform or gallery, and means for moving the said platform-car up and down, as set forth.

2. The combination with a balloon anchored by suitable ropes or cables, of a platform or gallery suspended from the said balloon, the elevator-car movable to or from the said platform, the elevating-ropes for said elevatorcar being connected to the balloon, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination with a balloon having aband surrounding the same, of the guy ropes or cables extending from said band to the earth, and depending rods, the circular platform or gallery suspended by the said rods, the guide-cables from the balloon, the elevator-car movable upon the said guide-cables, and means for raising and lowering the elevator-car, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a balloon constructed as described, of the band surrounding the same, the guy ropes or cables extending from the band to the earth, the circular platform or gallery suspended from the balloon, the guide-cables extending from the balloon and connected to a winding mechanism at the operating-station, the elevator-car and elevating-ropes, said elevating-ropes being connected to a winding mechanism at the operating-station, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as shown and described.

JOSEPH GRETH.

Witnesses:

AMELIE COUPE, FRANK J. COUPE. 

